When it comes to clothing, most people think of fashionable designs and unique tastes, rarely associating it with health. Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported on a health issue stemming from clothing: Bella Steinman, a 52-year-old American physical therapist, had always been in robust health.However, during a long trip to Israel, she experienced unprecedented numbness from her knees to her pelvis, so severe it caused pain. She speculated about everything from stroke to neurological disorders until consulting neurologist Dr. Irving Friedman, who finally eased her worries. So what should we pay attention to when dressing?
The culprit turned out to be a fashionable, tight decorative belt fastened around her pelvis! Dr. Friedman explained that such belts can compress the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, a major nerve running from the abdomen to the outer thigh.This condition is known as paresthetic femoral pain syndrome, where any compression of this nerve can trigger symptoms. It's particularly common among police officers who carry guns on their hips and ballet dancers wearing tight tutus.Wang Yuping, chief physician of neurology at Beijing Xuanwu Hospital, told Life Times that if a belt is tightly fastened on the outer side of the pelvis, it can indeed lead to such severe consequences. In fact, many seemingly insignificant issues like this can unknowingly harm our health.
Tight jeans can reduce sperm count and trigger gynecological issues.
While skinny jeans may enhance leg contours, the tightly constricted lower body pays a price. Both declining sperm counts in men and gynecological inflammations in women may be linked to this phenomenon, with experts coining the term "jeans syndrome."Professor Zhu Lan from Peking Union Medical College Hospital's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology notes that the non-breathable fabric of jeans may trigger gynecological issues like vulvitis and vaginitis. Additionally, a report published in the American Journal of Internal Medicine indicates that tight jeans can disrupt digestion, causing abdominal discomfort, bloating, and heartburn.
Special Note: Dr. Octavio Bessa, an American internist, mentioned that a survey found middle-aged and elderly men were most affected by discomfort from tight jeans, with pants sizes at least 7.5 cm smaller than their waist measurements. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly individuals should avoid wearing tight jeans.Here are two simple tests to help you choose the right pants: First, lift your knees toward your chest to see if it feels comfortable. Second, squat down. If you notice most of your buttocks exposed in the mirror or more than three rolls of fat appearing on your abdomen, it indicates the waistband is too low or the size is too small.
Shapewear can trigger various health issues.
Advertisements promise it makes women more attractive, flattens men's protruding bellies, boosts muscle strength during exercise, and improves postpartum figures. Many people, in pursuit of perceived beauty, willingly subject themselves to shapewear often likened to cages.However, Dr. Guo Yifeng from Shanghai Xinhua Hospital's Dermatology Department warns that wearing shapewear too tightly or for extended periods can trigger numerous health issues and cause skin laxity. Shapewear may impair blood circulation, leading to insufficient blood supply and triggering breathing difficulties, headaches, chest tightness, and other problems. It also compresses abdominal organs like the kidneys, spleen, and liver, keeping internal organs and the nervous system in a prolonged state of tension, which reduces gastrointestinal digestive function.Furthermore, shapewear primarily works by compressing the body to redistribute fat to less visible areas. Prolonged use can cause muscles to lose their natural contractile ability, potentially leading to muscle and skin laxity.
Important reminder: Limit shapewear wear to 3–5 hours daily. Always remove it at night to give your body a break.As intimate garments, shapewear must be comfortable, breathable, and highly sweat-wicking. Always inquire about materials before purchase to avoid allergies, overheating, or heat rash. Ill-fitting shoes cause foot problems. A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study revealed that 64% of adult foot disorders stem from improper footwear.According to Zhang Jianzhong, Director of the Foot and Ankle Disease Department at Beijing Tongren Hospital, uncomfortable shoes are like shackles on your feet. Many people prioritize style and durability when buying shoes, rarely considering health first. Special reminder: The most crucial principle when buying shoes is proper fit. Middle-aged and elderly individuals should choose shoes that allow for easy width adjustment, such as lace-ups or Velcro fasteners.Soles should not be excessively soft, as this compromises support. Shoes with low heels are preferable to flats, as they require less effort to walk in. He recommends shopping for shoes in the afternoon, selecting sizes based on the larger foot, and ensuring a finger's width of space at the toe box. When trying on shoes, walk a few steps in both. It is especially important to note that flip-flops are highly detrimental to foot health and should not be worn for extended periods.Women should minimize high-heel use. Children's clothing zippers pose injury risks. Despite China's first "Infant and Toddler Clothing Standards" for ages 24 months and under taking effect four years ago, children's apparel quality and safety remain concerning. Tragic incidents of children strangled by clothing drawstrings have occurred globally, while zippers may pinch children's skin. Special Note:Dr. Wu Hong, Associate Chief Physician at Shanghai Children's Medical Center's Child Health Department, recommends selecting plain colors like pure white or light blue when buying infant clothing, avoiding items with strong odors. Accessories such as zippers and metal parts must be secure and free of rough edges. Exposed cords should not exceed 14 cm in length. Opt for clothing without zippers; if buttons are necessary, side-fastening is preferable.
Wearing the wrong undergarments can cause discomfort throughout the body.
During the cold winter and spring seasons, thermal underwear is highly favored by middle-aged and elderly individuals. However, Professor Li Yuehua from the Geriatric Center at Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences cautions that some thermal underwear is made with composite sandwich materials. While these offer good warmth, they have poor breathability.After sweating, substances like urea and salts in perspiration struggle to evaporate, potentially causing skin itchiness and leading to contact dermatitis or eczema. For women, overly tight bras may compress chest muscles, resulting in arm numbness, pain, fatigue, and even affecting skeletal and breast development.
Special Note: Li Yuehua recommends that seniors opt for pure cotton undergarments. If thermal underwear is preferred, avoid wearing it directly against the skin; instead, layer it over a pure cotton undershirt. Additionally, women should select bras that fit properly—oversized bras lack support, while undersized ones cause discomfort through constriction.For seniors, bras should ideally be simple in design, soft in texture, moisture-wicking and breathable, easy to put on and take off, and free of underwire. Dr. Shafik from Cairo University Medical School advises that both men and women should avoid synthetic underwear in favor of pure cotton. Men are best suited for boxer briefs that aren't too tight.
Ties may trigger glaucoma.
When experiencing anger, tension, or anxiety, individuals often instinctively loosen their ties and top shirt buttons to relieve neck pressure. This behavior has scientific basis.Tight collars and ties compress neck blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain. This not only increases susceptibility to headaches, tinnitus, and chest tightness but may also elevate intraocular pressure, heightening glaucoma risk. Clinical tests show that wearing a tie for three minutes can raise eye pressure by 20%, and elevated intraocular pressure is a primary factor in glaucoma development.Last year, a survey of South Korean office workers revealed that overly tight neckties also reduce cervical spine mobility and increase pressure on back and shoulder muscles. Since neckties are washed less frequently, they pose a higher risk of cross-infection. Some hospitals abroad have already banned doctors from wearing neckties.
Special reminder: Avoid tying ties too tightly. Ensure breathing remains unobstructed and the neck feels comfortable. Many middle-aged and elderly individuals favor traditional Chinese attire. When wearing such garments, ensure the collar button is not fastened too tightly, allowing ample freedom of movement for the neck.